My 2018 Musical Advent Calendar and a Reading / Book Update

Bill's 2018 Advent Music Calendar

Day 5. Lisa Stansfield - I Will Be Waiting

Almost bedtime but I'll post my song just before we head up. Since I met and married Jo, I've explored her music tastes and then followed up by exploring BBC Radio 2's varied playlists. A few years back I finally discovered the wondrous voice of Lisa Stansfield. Every year since then I've added one or two of her many songs onto my USB for my car driving enjoyment. This is one of the latest additions. It's not a song listed on her singles listing in wiki, mind you, I may just have missed it in my quick scroll. So here you go, from Lisa Stansfield, this is I Will be Waiting.

Finished Reading

1.  Katapult by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado #2).










"Katapult is the 2nd book in Karen Kijewski's Kat Colorado mystery series. Kat is a PI working out of Sacramento CA. In some ways she reminds me of Kinsey Milhone, but so far I think the stories I've read have been grittier than the Alphabet books. Both series are both entertaining and fun reads though. Both PI's also have a coterie of friends who help make their lives better and safer and who have their backs.

So, enough of comparing the series. What about Katapult? The book definitely involves Kat's extended family. She receives a call from her 'grandmother' Alma (not biological, but the woman who raised her) and discovers that Johnny, her cousin (related through Alma) has been murdered. Alma wants Kat to investigate the murder and also find her other 'cousin', Michaela, Johnny's sister. Lots of familial estrangement, lots to do with the father of the two.

So this is how Kat's investigation begins. She also finds herself involved with a teenage prostitute who wants Kat to look into the murder of one of her friends. So two ongoing cases and lots of interesting characters. Threats to lives, Kat's and Michaela's, are thrown into the mix. It's at times a scary, frightening case and very well described.

Kat is a level-headed, for the most part, individual, a quality she needs in abundance, considering some of the people around her in this story. Lots of shouting and bad feelings that she needs to sort through if she is to solve the case. But she also has excellent friends, her boyfriend (Los Vegas cop Hank), Charity (good willed and able to take control when necessary) and Henley, the cop working the murders, who is gruff but likeable.

The story is, as I said, gritty and at times had me on the edge of my seat as Kat works her way out of scary situations. The case was interesting and even though I had some ideas, there were enough twists to keep me more than satisfied. Enjoyable series so far. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson #1).

"Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves."

New Purchases

Three books arrived in the mail today.

1.  The Man Who Liked to Look at Himself by K.C. Constantine (Mario Balzic #2)











"As the novel opens, Balzic and Lt. Harry Minyon of the state police are hunting pheasant at the Rocksburg Rod and Gun Club when, after Minyon's dog bites Balzic, the dog uncovers a piece of human bone that shows signs of having been hacked apart."

2. The Marvellous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #2).








  



"'Today I will make all necessary preparations, and we will march upon the Emerald City at daybreak tomorrow.' Having escaped the evil witch Mombi, Tip and his friends set out to the Land of Oz to meet the Scarecrow, Ruler of the Emerald City. However, General Jinjur and her Army of Revolt have seized power, and it will take more than the Soldier with the Green Whiskers to return the throne to its rightful owner. But who is the true her to Oz, and where in the world can they be?"

3. Finders Weepers by Max Byrd (Mike Haller #3).












"Muriel Contreras, a high-priced hooker, is informed by PI Mike Haller that she'd inherited a fortune. Trouble is, someone doesn't want her to live to collect it. If he isn't able to murder Muriel, he'll kill anyone who tries to help her!."

Well, there you go, see any books you like? 

I managed to put up the outside lights this afternoon. The rest of the neighbours were trying to make me look bad... ;0) Now to get some Xmas cards written.

Have a great Thursday!